The Federal High Court In Lagos has ordered former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, to account for the payment of 729 billion Naira to 24.3 million poor Nigerians over six months in 2021.
Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu’s judgment mandates the former minister to provide details of the beneficiaries, the number of states covered, and the payments per state.
This ruling follows a Freedom of Information suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, praised the judgment as a victory for transparency and accountability. The court dismissed objections from the minister’s counsel, emphasizing the Importance of disclosing how public funds are utilized.
The court’s ruling highlights the urgent need for the current administration to address systemic corruption within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and other government agencies, as documented by the Auditor-General of the Federation.
In a letter to President Bola Tinubu, SERAP urged immediate compliance with the court order, calling for the release of the spending details of the 729 billion Naira. This action, they say, will reinforce the rule of law and transparency in governance.
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